Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1887-02-19

The color came and went IN Gabri-
elle's cheeks. She looked down, but
made no reply.
"1ou despise me; / know you do.
For four whole years | have striveD
with my passion, for four whole years
it has been my life 8 endeavor to efface
the memory Of you, and the end OF it
Is that L have come back again, meek,
submissive, humbled, fawning at your
feet. Think what you will ofme-you
never thought too well-but don't
send Inc away again. Although you
have wronged me, love you still'-
Wronged you?" cried Gay, looking
up at him with a sudden blaze in her
eyes. 81 do not understand you
"1ou do not understand me?" he
repeated slowly; ''then | will explain.
-Four years ago, if you remember, you
were graciously pleased to treat me
as your friend. loved you from the
first, and took no pains to conceal
my thoughts. | believed that you
loved me. l came one day to cell you
everything. l found you i'll ardent
conversation with IA gentleman.
He was bending over you and holding
your hand. | saw yOulay your other
hand on his arm, and, at the same
time, you turned and saw me. Ibid
not wish to Intrudc upon you. | did
not hear your conversation; | only
saw tor myself, and | knew that you
saw me. No explanation was needed.
and none was forthcoming. | was
proud; so were you. We parted
went away"
you were right in going away"
cried Gay, passionately If you could
think this of me. You were only
wrong in coming back. | wonder how
you dare speak to me like this
81 am sorry to have offended you.
| am rude, perhaps, but | can't help
it. ought to have conquered my re-
sentiment by this time. and | thought
that / had done so, but the recoIlec-
ton of it comes back all the more
wildly for being so long buried, and it
stirs me to say things that otherwise
/ would not have said. We will dis
miss the subject, if you choose, for
ever"
mo, Theodore, | do not choose.
Having recalled the past, let us give it
a fair hearing. You say that | gave
you no explanation of the interview
with Arthur Linden. Had you given
ME any reason to do so?"
"You must have known i loved
you"
"You had never said so. For my
own part, in my absolute childish
ignorance, l never thought any expla-
nation necessary. trusted implicitly
in your friendship. l did not think
you could not trust mine. 1t was
Barbara whom Arthur Linden cared
for. 1t was Barbara of whom we
were taking then, for we were good
friends enough, and he knew always
took his part with Barbara. There's
no harm in speaking of it now, per-
haps. He is dead"
For some moments both were too
agitated to speak.
"Gay. my darling" said Theodore
at last, in voice of suppressed emo
ton, Twill you forgive me? have been
very wrong, but have suffered for my
folly"
The blaze in Gays earnest eyes had
melted into tears. She turned and
looked at him reproachfully.
"Have not suffered, too? Oh, Theo-
dorel"
No more words were needed. The
next moment she was in Theodores
arms, and Theodore's kisses banished
all her tears.
"Well, to be sure" said good Aunt
Judy, when, toiling slowly homeward
an hour afterward, she came suddenly
upon the lovers arm-in-arm in the lane.
"Well to be sure! And l suppose l
may walk home alone, ehl This is the
of your devotion to your
aunt, young man. Your complaint
was heartache, l suppose. Well, well!
she's a good girl, Gay, and / shan't
forget you on your wedding day, my
dear"